I’ve covered rental cars extensively in recent months, largely due to the pandemic. I went from rarely driving to renting cars monthly, and I’m considering buying a used car. Living in New York, this is something I would never have thought of in the past.
I’ve gotten more serious about buying or leasing a car in recent months. One thing that caught my eye when looking for short term leases was Hertz’s recently launched subscription to my car: a new short term lease billed monthly.
Reading: Hertz my car review
Related: How to Never Pay Full Price for a Rental Car
This service allows drivers to pay a fixed monthly fee for a rental car. Rate includes insurance, damage waiver, and the ability to trade in your car twice a month. has the potential to be an interesting leasing alternative for many drivers, especially if you don’t want to make a 36-month commitment to a single vehicle.
I’ll show you the ins and outs of the hertz my car program. we will discuss the different plans available, prices and included benefits. then I’ll wrap up my thoughts on how my car compares to leasing and other subscription services like care by volvo.
Let’s dive in!
To get more tpg news and offers delivered to your inbox every morning, sign up for our daily newsletter
an overview of hertz my car benefits
As mentioned in the introduction, hertz my car is a car subscription service that gives you a car to drive all month. You can trade in your car twice a month for a different vehicle that’s included in your plan, giving you a lot of flexibility.
The program has other exciting benefits that set it apart from a standard lease or long-term car rental. Let’s take a look at all the benefits included with the subscription.
Related: Is the hertz free pass worth $99 a year?
insurance is included in all plans
your hertz my car subscription includes two types of insurance. The first is a damage waiver: under the terms, you will not be responsible for any damage or theft incurred after the first $1,000. damage waiver equals $1,000 deductible on standard auto insurance.
Second, the plan includes liability insurance, which is higher than the state minimum in most cases and consists of the following coverage:
- bodily injury or death, up to a limit of $100,000 for each person
- up to $300,000 for each accident
- up to $50,000 for property damage
- gold – 1 point for
- five stars: 1.25 points per dollar
- Chairman’s Circle: 1.5 points per dollar
This coverage should be more than adequate for most accidents. the website does not mention extending this coverage to higher limits online, so please contact hertz directly if you don’t think this is enough.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Coverage
change cars twice a month
one of the biggest attractions of hertz my car is that you can change cars twice a month. each plan includes several interesting vehicle types, which we will talk about later.
Let’s say you want to drive a sedan most days, but you need to help a friend move. No problem – you can simply return your car and pick up a truck when you need it. then you can switch back whenever you want. all additional changes beyond the first two incur a $75 fee.
no long-term commitment
Another valuable advantage of hertz my car is that you only have a two-month commitment. after the first two months, you will be charged monthly and can cancel at any time. this is much more flexible than a standard lease that requires a commitment of two or more years.
a free additional driver is included with all plans
See also: REVIEW | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro has everything a good family car needs (except decent brakes) | Wheels
All memberships include a free additional driver, so your spouse or other designated driver can drive any vehicle included in your membership. unfortunately, any beyond this excluded.
Related: Everything you need to know about the elite status of rental cars
you can drive up to 2000 miles per month
hertz my car membership includes 2,000 miles per month on every car you rent. any miles beyond this are charged at $0.35 each. these charges can add up quickly for those who drive a lot during a given month.
mileage allowance totals 24,000 miles per year, which is significantly higher than most leases offer. just make sure 2000 miles per month fits your habits before you choose my car over buying a car.
roadside assistance is included free of charge
If you have a problem with your car, like a flat tire or a breakdown on the road, hertz has you covered. all subscriptions include roadside assistance, so you have someone to call if your car breaks down.
In addition, since there are no maintenance costs associated with the subscription, you will not be responsible for fixing the problem. this is a considerable benefit over owning a car or a standard lease, where you would have to pay for a repair.
includes pick-up service
Another nice perk is that hertz will pick you up at your first rental. just contact the branch you are renting from and the company will send an employee to pick you up. although it’s a one-time benefit, this can save you an uber or lyft fare when it’s time to pick up your car.
related: tpg’s guide to car rental promotions that will save you money
available plans and prices
hertz offers three different plans for my car. each includes the same benefits discussed above but with different car options. here’s a quick look at both plans.
hertz my car level 1
Tier 1 starts at $599 per month and includes entry-level economy, compact and midsize vehicles. According to the website, this includes vehicles similar to the Chevy Spark, Ford Focus, and Mazda 3. It’s not the most interesting assortment, but it might be a good option for someone who needs a simple car to get around town.
hertz my car level 2
According to the My Car page, Tier 2 members pay $999 per month, plus a one-time $250 enrollment fee. You can choose from small sport utility vehicles, small trucks, and full-size sedans when you trade in your car. sample vehicles include the volkswagen tiguan, toyota tacoma and nissan altima.
This plan should be an excellent option for most drivers. the sedan is great for everyday driving, while having access to an SUV or truck is great for moving and other times you need to haul a lot.
hertz my car level 3
Things get a little more interesting with Tier 3. This subscription offers high-end cars for $1,399 per month, a 40% premium over Tier 2. Like the other tiers, this plan is also subject to at a registration fee of $250.
This plan gives you access to all Tier 1 vehicles, plus regular SUVs, large trucks, and luxury sedans. Sample vehicles include the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Infiniti QX60, Ford F-150, and Cadillac CTS. not a bad combination if you ask me.
This plan has the potential to be a great deal for those looking to rent luxury vehicles. Sure, it’s priced at a premium, but having access to this expanded range of vehicles is a nice perk if you drive a lot.
Related: How the auto bar can save you up to 77% on car rentals
where does hertz operate my car?
After an initial launch in Austin and Atlanta, Hertz My Car is now available throughout the United States. markets at corporate airports and neighborhood locations. That being said, you have to be 25 or older to qualify for a My Car subscription, which turns off a good chunk of drivers (like me). it is not clear if someone under the age of 25 can be added as an additional driver.
earn hertz gold rewards points
You’ll earn hertz gold rewards points with your my car membership just like you would with any rental. Level 1 members earn 599 points per month, Level 2 earn 999, and Level 3 members earn 1,399 points per month. plus, hertz elite members get their respective bonus points.
how does hertz my car compare to similar services?
See also: Quality of Care – Center for Medicare Advocacy
hertz my car isn’t the only car subscription service out there. I found a handful during my research, some operated by auto manufacturers and others independently. Here’s a look at how Hertz’s service stacks up against two other services: Care by Volvo and Fair.
hertz my car vs beware volvo
care by volvo is another interesting car subscription service. Like a standard lease, it will be tied to a 24-month commitment with an annual limit of 15,000 miles. however, the subscription includes insurance, maintenance, and the ability to trade in your car every 12 months (as long as you make another 24-month commitment).
You can choose from three different Volvo SUVs and a sedan when you sign up for care. subscriptions start at $700 per month with no upfront costs. there is no set age or location requirement, but all applicants must have a valid driver’s license and two years of credit history.
I think Care by Volvo is a great deal for those who want to keep a car for at least a year. It’s cheaper than hertz my car and gives you access to a much better car in my opinion. That said, it’s not that flexible since you can’t change your car at will or cancel at any time.
hertz my car vs fair
the fair offers another interesting take on the car subscription model. lets you lease high-quality used cars for the length of your choice, from a single month to a full three-year lease.
The fair includes regular maintenance and roadside assistance, but does not include insurance. The price of your subscription largely depends on the type of car and how long you lease it for. For example, a three-year lease on a 2017 Nissan Versa SV near Los Angeles is $175 per month, with $899 due at signing.
on the other hand, a no-contract monthly lease for a 2017 gmc yukon denali xl is $835, with a payment of $2,899 due at signing. this is a pretty big expense and costs more than a hertz for my car membership when insurance is factored in.
so depending on the type of car you’d like to lease, I think hertz my car has the potential to be a significantly better-than-fair deal.
is my hertz car a good deal compared to a rental?
hertz my car has the potential to be a great deal. If you drive more than a standard lease allows, and you want to be able to trade your car at will, you’ll probably get by. That being said, it’s worth breaking down the cost of a standard car rental, factoring in insurance, and comparing the price with hertz my car.
Let’s start with the lease. One of the cars included with the Tier 2 subscription is a Toyota Tacoma pickup. The advertised price for a 36 month Toyota Tacoma lease in Atlanta, one of my car compatible cities, is $229 per month with $3,528 due at signing. this brings the cost to $327 per month.
In addition, the average annual cost of auto insurance in Atlanta is $1,388, according to Zebra. this does not take into account the fact that the Tacoma in question is new or any specific information about the driver’s age and driving history.
For this article, let’s round the cost of insurance up to $1,500 per year or $125 per month. This brings the total cost of leasing a Toyota Tacoma to $452, not including maintenance.
with that being said, the lease includes half of the mileage included with the hertz my car membership. Furthermore, you are subject to a 36-month contract and cannot exchange the car at any time during this period.
In my opinion, this makes the hertz my car membership worthwhile for many drivers. If you spend a lot of time driving and want the versatility of being able to switch to a new car whenever you want, membership could make a lot of sense compared to leasing a car. In addition, you can cancel the service whenever you want.
Related: Loyalty programs can help save car rental companies: Here’s how
end result
Overall, hertz my car is an interesting program. It can be a considerably better deal than leasing a car, but only if you drive a lot and want the flexibility to change cars. Similarly, drivers who only need a car for a few months may find the freedom of not having a long-term contract attractive.
On the other hand, a standard lease or other subscription service may be a better deal if you don’t need the full 2,000 miles per month and are okay with only one car for the entire lease. as always, crunch the numbers and see what works best for you.
regardless, I don’t think this is the only car subscription service we’ll see from a major rental car company. car rental companies are suffering during the coronavirus pandemic, and these subscriptions provide a new way to generate revenue while business travel is at a standstill.
See also: Graco Turn2Me Multimode Car Seat Review – Car Seats For The Littles
